The department of fisheries of Karnataka has plans to construct a two-lane 397 km long concrete road from Talapady in Dakshina Kannada to Karwar in Uttara Kannada which will run parallel to NH-17. The existing fisheries road in these districts will be widened and upgraded as part of the project. The total estimated of cost is around Rs 800 crore.
The fisheries has set aside Rs 500 crore for development of roads in Dakshina Kannada (61 km from Thalapady to Udupi border) and Udupi district (196 km) and Rs 273 crore for the roads in Uttara Kannada district (144 km) thereby joining NH-17. The proposed roads include Zilla Panchayat and other roads as well.
PWD is also planning to construct five arterial ring roads in various parts of the district along the national highways to improve inter-state road connectivity between Karnataka and Kerala.
The NH department has already floated technical bids for four-laning NH-48 between Hassan and Bantwal and will open bids in a short period of time.
The main routes to be developed under this section are NH-17 bypass road i.e. Udupi-Karkala-Belthangady-Dharmasthala to join NH-48; Uppinangady-Kadaba-Panja-Sullia; Surathkal-MRPL-Bajpe Airport-Polali-B.C. Road-Konaje to join NH-17; and Airport Road to Karkala-Udupi Road.